When I heard and saw Harry Whitney working with horses it aligned with something I had been looking into in my human relationships in a concept called the culture of honor (Danny Silk). In this way of life, freedom is really important. We don’t try to control everyone and everything around us, instead the goal is to learn self-control. If those around us have freedom, they get to think for themselves and make decisions, then we control our own responses accordingly, and for the system to be effective it must be done with the goal of connection as a priority, and we have to stop using punishment to get what we want.

In my past I had been trying various ways to get control of my horses, but in this new way of thinking I wanted my horse to not just obey and comply (and as quickly as possible) but I wanted my horse to have the freedom to think for herself and make a decision, and then work together with me. This way of functioning attempts to remove fear from the equation, and build a foundation of experiential trust. 

In the human system, the term “Powerful People” was used for people who learn to control themselves, not others, learn good and fair boundaries, stay consistent and clear, and exist in freedom in their lives while encouraging those around them to do the same. Powerful people take responsibility for their actions and seek connection with those around them, and are not afraid. 

I want to encourage people to believe they could be powerful people with powerful horses as partners. I believe it’s possible. It takes some faith for many people to believe their horse- if given the opportunity, the freedom – will choose to cooperate.  It’s scary for many to make a switch to this way of operating, I think in part, because they know they aren’t the kind of reliable, clear, self-controlled person yet to lead the way, but what we believe about ourselves is not always true. Most people are surprised when the take the risk to change and see that one step at a time (as my friend Ronnie Moyer always says) Change is possible! But we have to start by changing the way we think, and then helping the horse change the way it thinks.

Powerful Horse is the “place” I want to help people find others thinking this way, and support each other when we struggle with troubled horses, or need advice in other horse related areas. This would be holistic approaches on forage-based nutrition, postural insight with our Alexander technique specialist, functional saddle fitting, dressage lessons with a woman who left traditional dressage at the international level to put her horses first, and at the heart of all of it, horsemanship education that is built on starting with the mind and encouraging freedom and responsibility and connection.

Currently our local clinics with Tom Moates are the center of this movement, but last year we held the first Powerful Horse Expo in Greenville, VA where we brought our professionals together to meet with people and support them and their horses. The Expo was small, but everyone who was involved got a lot out of it in one way or another. There is not an expo planned for 2025, but my hope is to continue to build the community from the grass roots, and offer live events over time where people can come meet over these values and connect.